Written by Uzoanya Ugonma
The Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reacted to the defection of Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Wike stated that Umahi’s defection was induced by his desperation to become Nigeria’s president in 2023.
He pointed out that the Ebonyi State Governor was trying to blackmail the PDP with allegations of injustice on the South-East to justify his defection to APC.
According to the Rivers State Governor, “My friend, Umahi wants to be president. No problem with that. You have a right to be president. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria.
“But that does not mean you have to blackmail your party, and tell lies to the people you are leaving the party because of the injustice meted against the South East, that is not correct.”
Wike further stated that under the PDP, South-East has produced Senate Presidents, National Vice Chairman of PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government. He demanded Governor Umahi to retract the allegation that PDP has not been fair to the South-East.
He said, “In life, power is sweet, but conscience is important. It is most offensive and insulting for a man to lie against his party because of power.
“My reaction to Governor Umahi’s defection is not that he has no right to defect, but to say he is defecting because of injustice meted to the South East that is insulting to the PDP.”
Governor Wike urged the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the PDP to take steps to ensure that the visions of PDP are upheld in Ebonyi State.
